PM attends the G-7 Summit in Brussels

Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivers remarks during the closing press conference at the conclusion of the G-7 Leaders' Summit.

Brussels, Belgium

5 June 2014

Introduction

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today concluded a two-day visit to Brussels, Belgium, where he participated in the G-7 Leaders’ Summit. The visit was part of a broader trip to Europe, which included a stop in Warsaw, Poland (June 4), to mark the 25th anniversary of the beginning of Poland’s transition from communism to democracy, a visit to Normandy, France (June 6), to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, and a stop in Kyiv, Ukraine (June 7), to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Petro Poroshenko as the new President of Ukraine.

During the Summit, leaders discussed actions the G-7 can take to strengthen the global economy, improve energy security, mitigate climate change and promote development. Prime Minister Harper pressed his G-7 colleagues for continued focus on improving children and women’s health in developing countries, following the successful Saving Every Woman, Every Child Summit in Toronto in May.

G-7 leaders also had frank discussions that focused on supporting the newly elected Ukrainian President and considering further measures to deter Russia’s continuing illegal occupation of Crimea and persistent military aggression in Eastern Ukraine. They also took stock of other international political and security challenges, including the situations in Syria, Iran and North Korea, with a view to promoting a more free, democratic and peaceful world.

Quick Facts

The G-7 Summit brings together the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with leaders of the European Council and the European Commission.

G-7 leaders are meeting at a time when all G-7 economies are expected to experience economic growth, although ongoing challenges remain. In many countries, growth and inflation remain too low and unemployment remains too high.

In Canada, the economy has recovered from the global recession better than most of its G-7 peers and more than one million Canadians are working today than during the depths of the economic crisis.

Quote

“At this year’s Summit, G-7 members agreed to take further actions to promote global economic prosperity and to advance important development challenges, such as improving the health of women and children in developing countries. We also showed strong resolve for supporting freedom and democracy in Ukraine under the country’s newly elected President.” – Prime Minister Stephen Harper